In brief statements before an audience primarily made up of law students, the Third District assemblyman said, “It’s about people.”

“It almost seems like we need a different word, because a clear-minded adult making this decision toward the end of their life doesn’t sound like suicide to me,” said Burzichelli. “The bill doesn’t allow someone like me, at my age, to, after a bad day, go to a Dr. Kevorkian-type person.”

The Death with Dignity Act would permit terminally-ill patients, who have been determined to have only six months to live, to self-administer medication to end their own life. Similar laws have already been approved by state governments in Oregon and Washington.

According to Burzichelli, only about one-third of patients in those states who request the medication opt to take it.

“When we understood why, we learned that people like having the option, and having that control,” he said. He later added, “The law doesn’t allow it now, and that’s not where the law should be – people should be able to say, ‘This is my decision.’ ”

Another proponent of the bill, Rev. Joseph Primo, associate executive director of Good Grief and a former hospice chaplain, argued that allowing certain patients to end their life would be “an act of mercy.”

“In my line of work, I see it as a question of quality of life,” he said, before later adding, “I believe it is in fact immoral to force someone to suffer when life no longer has quality.”

David Leven, an attorney and executive director of an advocate group called Compassion & Choices, said it's a matter of personal liberty.

“It is purely and simply a choice that should be available to every terminally-ill, qualified patient who wants that choice,” he said. “Just as I would not presume to make a choice for you, please don’t presume to make a choice for me.”

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Those arguing against the bill included Patrick R. Brannigan, executive director of the New Jersey Catholic Conference; Joseph Fennelly, chairman of the Bioethics Committee of the Medical Society of New Jersey; and Kathleen Gialanella, an attorney and registered nurse.

Gialanella cited a position statement from the American Nurses Association Code of Ethics, which allows pain medication to be given even if it will “hasten death,” but speaks against “acting when the only intent is death.”

“When withholding medication, when the patient wants to go with the medication, that is a more passive stance and you’re letting nature take its course,” she said. “Death with Dignity or assisted suicide, as I see it, crosses the line when you get more active with third parties. I believe that is the dividing line.”

According to Gialanella, suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the country, and that figure is even higher among younger generations.

“We need to be careful about the message we send out to them,” said Gialanella.

Fennelly discussed the changes that have affected the medical profession in the past 50 years, stating that the biggest “revolution” has been the practice of “people telling doctors what to do.” He characterized the practice of assisted suicide as “the siren song of misplaced autonomy.”

“Even a firing squad has more than one member, because no one wants the shame of someone dying,” he said.

Brannigan evoked his experience with his own parents’ deaths – including his mother’s death in her home surrounded by family.

“I understand the notion for the bill came out of the deepest, most sincere feeling of compassion,” he said. “But the finest example of loving care is the relieving of pain, psychological pain and depression – not the administration of lethal drugs.”

The bill – A3328 – was introduced in September 2012 by Burzichelli (D-Gloucester). It was referred to the Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee and was later approved by that committee in February by a vote of 7-2. An identical bill in the Senate has not yet seen a committee vote.